Toggle clip



Aug. 7, 1934. M. JONES 1,969,013'

TOGGLE CLIP Filed Jan. 12', 19:55 2 sheets-sheet 1 l. M. JONES TOGGLE CLIP Filed Jan. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 l -UNi'rEDsrATEs PATENT oFFice Y 'roGGLaoLrP g Ira Milton Jones, Thiensville, Wis. Application January 12, 1933, seria; No. 651,254

This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in toggle clipsfor use with leather stretchingldevices or the like and is an `improvement upon the co-pending application of Ira Mil- 5 tendones, Serial No. 562,286, led September 11,

Itis an object of the present invention to producea toggle clip of relatively simple design having superior features of strength `and durability.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a toggley clip having a non-corrosive boot and to insure against displacement of the boot by the clamping member.`

Another object of the present invention is to l produce a superior means for holding the jaws of the toggle assembled with the mounting frame.

A further object of `the invention is to provide an attaching hook of greater strength and improved design to more rmly hold the clip to the stretchingframe and preventdetachment` therefrom during opening of thegtoggle clip.

A further object of this inventionresides in the provision of improved gripping means to insure greater holding power.

`And a `still further object of the present invention is to produce toggle clips having a roller action between the-movable jaw and the clamping lever to reduce friction and facilitatemanip-` ulation of the clip.

VWith the above and otherobjects in View which will appear as'the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangementof-parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly delfined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosedinvention may be made as come withinthe scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illus- 4o trated one complete example of the physical embodiment ofV my .invention constructed according to the best mode 1I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles. thereof, and in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a clip embodying the present invention showing a piece of material clamped between the jaws;

Figure 2 is 'an enlarged View similar to Fig. 1, but withparts broken away and in section and `showing the jaws in open position;

Figure 3 is a crosssection'on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

`Figure 4 is a perspective View of the clamping jaws seen in Fig. 1; i 554 Figure 5 illustrates a modified embodiment of 20 Claims.' (Cl. 24--84) the invention in which thelower jaw is or slightly different design;

Figure 6 is a side view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, with the jaws in open position;

Figure 7 is a cross section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2, showing the means of clamping the spring jaws in the mounting frame,-

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the boot structure involved in the present invention; Y

Figure 9 is a detail View illustrating a modified arrangement of the gripping teeth in the lower jaw; and

Figure 10 is a detail view showing another construction for the lower jaw.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the toggle is shown as having a pair or clamping jaws formed from a single strip of spring material 10 bent inedially upon itself as shown at 11 to provide overlying end portions 14 and 15. The end portion l5 is made iat and has' the end thereof remote from the bend 11 curled backwardly upon itself and towards the portion `14 as shown at 17 into an approximately cylindrical form to provide a spring gripping jaw, the mating jaw forthe jaw 17 being formed by the overlying end portion 14.

The jaw 1'? is provided with a plurality of tangs 85 18 which are cut from the material of the spring and bent outwardly, and backwardly` to bite into any material such as 20 clamped between the jaws 14 and 17, the tangs 18 increasing the frictional grip Aofthe jaws.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be seen that the jaw 14 Vis provided with a boot, generally referred toas 23, of aluminum or other similar non-corrosive metal which will not stain the leather under the iniiuence of chromic, tannic or other acids used in the tanning process.

The boot 23 is stamped from a single piece of `metal and comprises a flat piece 25 having an upstanding tang 26 at the rear'thereof engageable in an aperture 28 in the spring 10 and clamped thereover, and an extended forward end portion 29 engageable over the forward end 30 of the jaw 14 and bent backwardly over the top of the jaw 14 as shown at 32.

As seen in Fig. 4, the jaw 14 has notches 34 cut therein which receive upturned sides 35 of the boot 23, the sides 35 cooperating with the tang 26 and the end portion 29 to accurately maintain the boot on the end 14 of the spring. The sides35 are cut from the boot stock and bent upwardly with the outermost edges thereof even with the corresponding edges of the boot 23 so as not to increase the overall width of the jaw.

The spring 10 is mounted in a frame, generally designated 33, which comprises a pair of parallel sides 4o and a0 connected together at the bottom by a flat wall 4:1. The distance between the side walls fio and do is substantially equal tc to the width of the spring 10 so that the spring is snugly received therebetween.

Coo erating with the side walls i0 and a0 to maintain the spring properly positioned in the frame is a projection 18 struck upwardly from the wall li1 to enter a hole i9 punched into the adjacent portion of the sp ing rEhe spring is held assembled with the frame by instruck projections in the side walls 40 and 40', which overlie the upper face of the spring end portion l5, as best shown in Fig. 7.

The bottom wall Lil of the frame hasl a tang 43 struck therefrom, and projecting through the opening formed in the bottom wall by striking down the tang i3 is a pro-ng ifi struck from the adjacent portion of the spring end 15. The tang 43, to increase its rigidity, is preferably formed with a longitudinal rib 4'?. The prong 44 is so positioned with respect to the tang 43 as to receive support therefrom and together with the tang 43 provides the necessary hook for attaching the clip to the supporting plate 46 of a stretching frame.

It is observed that the prong i4 has a forwardly projecting end portion 45 parallel to the wall 41 and spaced from the wall a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the supporting plate 46, as illustrated in Fig. 5. This feature, together with the fact that the distance from the front of the prong 44 to the back of the tang 43, is substantially 'the same as the diameter of the aper- .tures in the plate 46, insures the clip being firmly held to the plate during the stretching operation. 1t also facilitates opening or" the clips, for in holding them securely to the supporting plate, opening of each individual clip may be done by merely snapping its actuating lever 53 upwardly. With the construction of the attaching hooks on toggle clips heretofore in use, this has been impossible for when such upward force has been applied to the .releasing lever, the entire clip would raise oif the supporting plate, pulling the hook from its aperture.

The releasing lever 53 is in the form of a bell crank with the long arm 55 providing a handle and the short arm 56 engaging the movable jaw 14. The lever 53 is preferably stamped from a single piece of metal and has a reinforcing rib 58 running longitudinally down the center of the handle. Downturned flanges 59 on the sides of the handle part 55 merge into the arms 56 and 55 and provide a bearing for a pin 60, which passes through the outer ends of the sides 40 and 10 to pivotally mount the lever 53 on the frame. It will be noted that in clamping position, the ends of the lever arms 56 and 56 are forward of the pin 60, or in other words, past dead center, so as to insure against accidental opening of the lever 53.

Movement of the lever 53 beyond clamping position is prevented by engagement of the iianges 59 with the looped portion 11 of the spring, and it is observed that the outer end of the handle projects considerably beyond the loop of the spring so that opening and closing of the clip is materially facilitated.

The opening and closing of the clips is further facilitated by a roller 63 mounted between the ends of the lever arms 56, 56. A pin 62 mounts the roller 63 in a position to contact the top of the jaw 14.

Adjacent the point of pivot of the lever 53 is an extension 65 bent at right angles to the handle 55 and provided with an outstruck portion 67 at the outer end thereof approximately parallel to an extension of the handle 55. The length of the extension 65 is such that in open position, shown in Fig. 2, the extension 65 extends over the end of the boot 23 with the outstruck portion 67 lying over the end thereof. This precludes any possibility of the bell crank lever 53 passing beyond its normal open position and dislodging the boot 23 from the spring 10.

1t will be noted that the roller 63 overlies the contacting point between the boot 23 and the clamping jaw 17 so that a maximum gripping action is obtained from the inherent resilience of the curved jaw 17. Also, the roller 63 is drectly above the forward end of the frame wall 4l and as the pivotal support 60 for the lever is securely tied to the wall 41 through the sides 40 and 40', a positive holding action is brought about.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5 and 6, which show a modication of the invention in which the spring member is slightly modified for use in instances where a less severe gripping action is required. In the embodiment shown in these two figures, the flat side l5 of the spring is bent backwardly at an angle as shown at 70 to overlie the hat portion l5 and lie between the portion l5 and the boot 23. The inner end of the member 7G is bent in an arcuate shape as shown at '72 and has outstruclc tangs 73 thereon engageabie with the material 20 to grip the same between the jaw 70 and the boot 23. In other respects, the clip shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and corresponding numerals have been applied on similar parts in the two forms.

In Figs. 9 and 10, two modified constructions of the lower clamping jaws are illustrated. Both of these constructions have as their objects to increase the gripping actionwhile at the same time minimizing the possibility of injuring the material gripped.

In Fig. 9, the clamping jaw is cylindrical as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, but in place of the tangs or teeth 18, three or more wider projections '75 are provided. These projections or teeth extend transversely across the clamping jaw and are staggered with respect to each other as illustrated, to insure a greater area of contact, and thereby afford a more secure grip.

in Fig. 16, the lower clamping jaw has a at upper material engaging face '76 from which gripping teeth 77, either of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or the type shown in Fig. 9, project to engage the material. The movable clamping jaw with its aluminum boot 23, and the means for actuating the same are identical in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, to that of the other forms of the invention.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that a relatively simple toggle of great strength and of materially improved construction has been provided; that the manner of attaching the spring which pro- Vides the clamping jaws, to the frame, is particularly novel, and that by reason of the provision of a roller at the point of contact-of the actuating lever with the movable jaw,'manipu1a tion is materially facilitated.`

`It will also be apparent that the hook provided for engaging the clip with itsV supporting member, not only insures'against accidentalvdisengagement of the clip during the stretching operation, but also facilitates the opening ofthe clips( What I claim as 'my invention is: l. In a toggle clip of the character described, a

one piece springmember bent mediallyupon mounting frame having-a bottom wall and spaced' side walls, a i tit projecting inwardly from. the bottom wall of said mounting frame, a one piece spring member bent medially upon itself provide overlying end portionsforming yieldable jaws,

said spring member being `disposed within kthe. frame with one of its jaws in flat .engagement` with the bottom wall and having `an aperture therein receiving said tit Vto maintain said spring member in fixed ,position in said frame,` and means on the side walls of the frame projecting over portions of said spring-member to prevent disengagement ofsaid tit from said aperture.v

3. In a toggle clip ofthe character described, a frame comprising a pair of parallel sides connected by asubstantially flat wall, a tit pressed inwardly into `said frame `from said connecting wall, a pair of resilient clamping jawsmounted in said frame, a part of one of said jaws having an aperture therein to 'receive said tit and hold the jaws in xed position in said frame, and means on said frame engageable with one of said jaws to prevent disengagement of said aperture from said tit. V

4. In a toggle clip of the character described, a mounting frame, a pair of gripping jaws mounted in said frame, said gripping jaws comprising a spring metal strip bent medially to form overlying end portions, a boot of non-corrosive material xed to one ;of theend portions, a bell crank lever mounted in said frame engageable with said end portion to force the jaws together in a gripping action, and a projection on said bell crank lever engageable over the outer edge of said boot to limit opening movement of said lever.

5. In a toggle clip of the character described, a frame, a projection punched from said frame and bent therefrom to form an aperture therein, a pair of gripping jaws mounted in said frame, a projection struck from one of the gripping jaws and extending through said aperture to coopcrate with said first mentioned projection to form an attaching hook for holding said toggle in place on a toggling frame. d

6. In a toggle clip of the character described, a pair of gripping jaws comprising a strip of spring metal medially bent to form overlying arms, one of said overlying arms having a reduced end portion and an aperture therein, a boot, a rst projection on one end of said boot engageable in said aperture, a second projection on the opposite end of the boot engageable over the end of the arm, and projections along the side arm, said projections cooperating with each other to maintain the boot in fixed position on the arm.

7. In a toggle clip of the character described, a frame, at tit formed on one wall of the frame, a tang out from said Wall ofthe frame andbent outwardly therefrom to provide an aperture in the frame, a strip of spring metal mounted in said frame and bent medialiy upon itself to form overlying end portions, clamping jaws formed on the overlying end portions and adapted to clamp material therebetween, said strip having an aperture therein to receive said tit, a tang struck from said strip and projected through the aperture in the frame to engage said first named tang, said last named tang and said titcooperating with said apertures to maintain said springA strip in iixed position in said frame.

' 8. In a toggle clip of the character described, a frame having spaced sides connected by a bottom wall, a tit-projected from said wall of said frame, a tang cut from said wall of said frame and bent outwardly therefrom to afford an aperture in the frame, `a strip of spring metal mounted in said frame and bent medially upon itself to form overlying end portions, clamping jaws formed on the overlying end portions and adapted to clamp material therebetween, said strip having an aperture, therein to receive said tit, a tang struck from said strip and projected through the aperture in said frame to engage said rst named tang, said last named tang and said tit cooperating with said apertures to maintain the spring strip in fixed position in said frame, and means on the sidesV of said frameadjacent said tit engageable over portions of said spring member to prevent disengagement of said spring member from said tit.

9. In a toggle of the character described, a frame, a pair of clamping jaws mounted in said frame, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said frame comprising a power arm engageable with one of said jaws to clamp said jaws into gripping engagement and an actuating arm at an angle thereto, and an extension on said actuating arm bent substantially parallel to said power arm and having a hook on its outer end engageable with the said jaw to limit opening movement of said bell crank lever.

10.In a toggle of the character described, a sheetV metal frame having spaced sides connected by a bottom wall, a pair of clamping jaws provided by the extremities of a strip of spring metal bent medially upon itself, said clamping jaws being received between the side walls of the frame, and an attaching hook projecting from the bottom wall of the frame and comprising, a tang struck from the bottom wall of the frame, and a prong struck from the adjacent portion of the spring metal strip and projecting through an aperture in the bottom wall of the frame to overlie the tang struck from said bottom wall of the frame.

11.`In a toggle of the character described including a frame of bendable metal and a pair of jaws provided by the overlying end portions of a strip of spring metal bent medially upon itself and positioned within the frame, an attaching hook for the toggle comprising, a tang struck from a portion of the frame, and a tang struck from the strip of spring metal with the first mentioned tang engaging the second mentioned tang to reinforce the same. 1

12. In a toggle of the character described, a frame including a bottom wall having an opening iid therein, and a pair of gripping jaws disposed Within the frame, said gripping jaws being providedl by the overlying end portions or a strip of spring metal bent medially upon itself, and an attaching hook for the toggle comprising, a prong struck from the strip of spring metal and `projecting through the opening in the bottom Wall of the frame.

13. In a toggle of the character described, a frame including a bottom Wall having an opening therein, a pair of cooperating gripping jaws mounted in the frame, one of said jaws having a portion overlying the bottom wall ofthe frame, and an attaching hook for the toggle comprising, a prong struck from the portion of said jaw overlying the bottom wall of the frame and projecting through the opening in said bottom Wall 4of the frame.

14. In a toggle of the character described, a .frame including a bottom wall having an opening therein, a pair of cooperating gripping ljaws mounted in the frame, one of said jaws having a portion overlying the bottom Wall of the frame, and an attaching hook for the toggle comprising, a prong struck from the portion of said jaw overlying the bottom wall of the frame and projecting through the opening in said bottom Wall of the frame, and a projection on the extremity of said prong disposed substantially parallel to the bottom wall of the frame.

overlying end portions thereof forming the gripping jaws, part of said strip overlying the bottom Wall of the frame and an attaching hook for said toggle comprising, a prong struck from said portion of the strip and projecting through the opening in the bottom Wall of the frame, a forward extension on the extremity of said prong substantially parallel to the bottom Wall of the frame, and a reinforcing tank struck from the bottom Wall of the frame and engaging the back of the prong.

16. In a leather stretching toggle, two elements forming parts of the complete toggle and having superimposed Walls, the exterior face of the outermost Wall affording a base adapted to rest on a work carrying support when the toggle is in use, a tang carried by each of said superimposed walls and projecting outwardly therefrom to project down from the base of the toggle to engage the Work carrying support to secure the toggle thereon, with its outermost Wall resting on the support, said tangs being in superimposed relation to provide a reinforced double thickness attaching hook.

17. In a leather stretching toggle of the character described, a frame having a bottom Wall, said bottom Wall having an opening therein, a tang depending from said bottom Wall and formed by apart of the frame, and a second tang associated with another part of the toggle and projecting through said opening to extend below the bottom Wall to overlie thev first mentioned tang, and said tangs jointly providing a hook for attaching the toggle to a support. v

18. In a leather stretching toggle of the character described, including a frame having a bottom Wall, said bottom Wall having an aperture therein, a spring member carried by the frame, a tang struck from the spring member and projecting through the aperture in the bottom wall, and a second tang carried by the frame and engaging the tang struck from the spring member to reinforce the same, said tangs jointly providing an attaching hook for the toggle.

19. In a toggle for stretching leather and the like, a frame including a bottom Wall having an opening therein, the material struck from the frame vto form the opening projecting down beneath the bottom Wall as a tang, a member carried by the frame and having a part overlying the bottom Wall, and a projection on said part overlying the bottom Wall and extending through the opening therein to form an attaching hook for the toggle, said projection engaging the tang to receive support therefrom.

20. In a toggle for stretching leather and the l' ber carried by the frame with a part overlying the I bottom Wall, and a second tang struck from the spring member and projecting through the opening in the bottom wall to overlie the rst mentioned tang and cooperate therewith to form a i double strength attaching hook for the toggle.

IRA MILTON JONES.

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